How do resource smoothing and resource leveling differ from each other?
Resource smoothing aims to maintain original project deadlines while increasing project costs. On the other hand, resource leveling does not alter the existing resource capacity but instead emphasizes rescheduling, which may have an impact on project deadlines.
The accompanying diagram, sourced from the APM Body of Knowledge, provides a comparison between the two approaches.
Resource levelling and smoothing options (APM, 2019, p. 179)
© Association for Project Management (APM) (2019) APM Body of Knowledge (7th edn), Princes Risborough: APM.
At a more significant level of impact, certain projects undergo more than just rescheduling or resource allocation adjustments. They may undergo a reevaluation of their project scope by the project sponsor. This involves a broader analysis of the entire project and requires reconsideration of how time, cost, and quality interact within the project.
A prime example is the review of large-scale infrastructure projects like railways. Such projects often undergo rescaling due to increased costs, resulting in significant deviations from the original plans. The consequences of these revisions can affect the client and a wider range of stakeholders and may even result in the loss of subsequent work opportunities (Kerzner, 2009, p. 529).
Now, let’s consider MTD, the water installation events company, and the Glasgow event that you have been following in the course videos thus far. When examining the provided figure, do you think it would be feasible to implement a resource leveling approach in this scenario?
Share your thoughts and join the discussion below.
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For MTD water project, it’s crucial to factor in the project timeline. I will recommend employing the result-smoothing or time-limited schedule method in executing the project. In addition to this, seeking more expertise and adjusting the budget may be necessary to ensure the water supply is delivered effectively. While increasing the final cost might be a concern, it will help accommodate the necessary budget adjustments.
Analyzing the project’s timeline allows us to assess potential challenges and opportunities for optimization. By utilizing the result-smoothing or time-limited schedule method, we can mitigate risks and ensure timely completion. Engaging additional expertise ensures a comprehensive approach, improving project outcomes. While budget adjustments may seem daunting, they are essential for project success and maintaining high-quality water supply for the community.
Resource levelling will be possible if during the planning phase allowance was made while scheduling .
The project should not just be planned to end on the same day as the opening. That way resource levelling can borrow some of the days that was originally meant for testing.
As a PM, relating to MTD’s water project, I will go for Resource smoothing approach reason being that it is helps in maintaining deadline but ofcourse operational cost will increase.
I believe resources smoothing will be best approach rather resources levelling, since the organization main concern is to see that the a project is accomplished before the deadline at any cost
My own contribution is that MTD project will require Resource smoothing for them to ensure the project completion time is preserved even though that it will affect the Project cost,it may be necessary to do a re-evaluation of the Project Scope
i think that for the MTD Company, Resource Scheduling might not be the right approach for the nature of their projects.
Scheduling of resources entails a solution that will eventually impact task deadlines and/or the overall scheduled delivery dates of the project. This is because Resource scheduling involves balancing workload with available resources.
MTD has to deliver onsite water facilities to meet the need of the users at an already established event date, so any solution that might impact the delivery date would not be the best, but rather; resource smoothing, on the other hand, might be preferable as this will enable the delivery of the project within the specified time at the expense of a cost increment.
Resource Smoothing is the act of working on the scheduled deadline of a project despite the changes in price or cost of the project while in Resource Leveling, the cost of the project remains the same but there’s rescheduling on any slight change on project deadline.
For a project like MTD the Float is very essential as such I will advice them to use the resource smoothing approach
With MTD, It is very possible to apply resource levelling approach on preserving planned deadlines and if it will not affect the event
Reply
For MTD water project the most accurate approah to use will be resource smoothing.
For a company such as MTD, Resource smoothing rather than resource leveling would be beneficial for them as the first aims to maintain original project deadlines while increasing project costs whereas the latter does not alter the existing resource capacity but instead emphasizes rescheduling, which may have an impact on project deadlines and usually events on which MTD manages their projects comes with fixed dates and they have no control in moving the dates forward or backwards.